Sporting Lisbon star Joelson Fernandes targeted by Arsenal

Arsenal have put together an offer that is ‘ready to be presented’ to Sporting Lisbon for 17-year old-winger Joelson Fernandes according to Portuguese newspaper Record via Sports Witness. 

Joelson is one of the most highly rated youth products to come out of the famed Sporting Lisbon academy in recent times. He is the latest graduate from an academy that has produced the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Luis Figo and Ricardo Quaresma. His qualities, ambition and position have led to him being likened to Cristiano Ronaldo.

He began training with the senior squad after the pandemic. He is yet to make his senior debut for the Portuguese club but was on the bench for the league match against Tondela on June 18th. He is a right footed winger who plays predominantly on the left wing. He uses his trickery and pace to devastating effect and his technique has captured the attention of many. 

Sporting want to renegotiate his deal so that they can increase his buyout clause from £41 million to £91.7 million. The player’s father Eusebio Mango and agent Kia Joorabchian are against this and have been fighting Sporting’s attempts to ramp up his price. 

The fact that Kia Joorabchian is his agent is likely to significantly increase Arsenal’s chances of landing the highly rated winger.